Chiroblog

Have you noticed your baby has a preference to look to one side? Maybe they have a favorite direction during tummy time, like looking over one shoulder, or they might even become fussy when they look the other way. While we develop movement patterns and preferences, a constant head preference could indicate that there is a muscular imbalance or limited neck range of motion. Movement is one of the primary ways babies learn about and interact with the world. As they turn their heads, reach for toys, roll, crawl, and explore their surroundings, they are developing important motor skills while their nervous system coordinates growth, adaptation, function, and movement. Because of this, movement patterns can provide valuable insight into how a baby is functioning both physically and neurologically.

When there is interference and the brain and body cannot communicate clearly, the body may begin to adapt by creating protective patterns, such as favoring one position or limiting certain movements. A baby's movement tells a story. While pediatric chiropractic care certainly may help improve mobility and range of motion, our true focus extends beyond the neck itself. We look at how the nervous system is helping the body coordinate movement, respond to its environment, and adapt as a baby grows. Every stage of development, from lifting the head and rolling over to reaching and crawling, depends on the body's ability to move and adapt efficiently. By supporting healthy function, our goal is not simply to improve movement, but to help create an environment where babies can interact with the world around them with greater ease and confidence.

Several weeks ago, a 2-month-old child came to us with colic/reflux and latching/nursing challenges, red flags already that something isn’t working right.  When we observed the baby head down (tummy time), the child could not lift its head up off the examining bench, keeping her head down and turned to the right.  After the mom flipped her gently over on her back, she continued to keep her head turned to the right. We just completed her re-exam after 6 adjustments and now her neck range of motion is almost completely normal.  Look what gentle pediatric, brain-based chiropractic adjustments plus some gentle neurological exercises can do!

References:

Congenital Muscular Torticollis: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Clinical Practice. Pediatrics. 2019 Aug;144(2):e20190582. doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-0582.

The effectiveness and safety of conservative interventions for positional plagiocephaly and congenital muscular torticollis: a synthesis of systematic reviews and guidance. Chiropractic & manual therapies, 28(1), 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12998-020-00321-w

The postpartum period is a time of intense healing and adaptation for a mother’s body. and nervous system. After pregnancy and delivery, many women experience physical stress from feeding, lifting, carrying, and prolonged feeding postures while caring for a newborn. Hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, and emotional stress can affect how the nervous system responds during recovery. Research has shown Chiropractic care is often used as a conservative, drug-free option to help improve spinal mobility, decrease muscle tension, and support overall postpartum function through gentle specific adjustments.

The vagus nerve plays a major role in regulating the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, often referred to as the “rest and digest” response. This nerve helps influence heart rate, digestion, inflammation, mood regulation, and stress recovery. During the postpartum period, increased stress and lack of restorative sleep may contribute to autonomic nervous system imbalance, keeping the body in a more sympathetic or “fight or flight” state. Studies evaluating spinal manipulation have found measurable changes in heart rate variability, which is commonly used to assess vagal tone and autonomic nervous system activity. These findings suggest chiropractic care may help support nervous system regulation and relaxation responses in some patients.

Many perinatal certified chiropractors who care for postpartum mothers focus not only on pain relief, but also on helping patients feel more regulated and resilient during recovery. Supporting healthy movement, posture, breathing mechanics, and nervous system balance may help mothers better tolerate the physical and emotional demands of early motherhood. Evidence also suggests that improved parasympathetic activity may positively influence digestion, sleep quality, and stress management, which are all important during postpartum healing, and when a mom is regulated, the chances of her newborn being regulated increase dramatically. As research on postpartum health and the nervous system continues to grow, more attention is being placed on whole-body approaches that support both physical recovery and nervous system function after childbirth, with the key understanding that ‘happy mom, happy baby’ is not just a cute saying, but a neurologically accurate truth. 

References:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161475421000361?via%3Dihub

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11322169/